The FCC should grant a blanket waiver until...
The FCC should grant a blanket waiver until Sept. 1, 2015, of the construction deadline for low-power TV stations authorized to build digital LPs, commented NAB (http://bit.ly/1oMPjJR) in docket 03-185 in response to an Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance petition (CD…
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July 29 p17). The post-incentive auction repacking is likely to displace many LPTV stations, and such stations aren’t eligible for reimbursement for their relocation costs, NAB said. “It is therefore unreasonable to require broadcasters to invest in new low power facilities today that may well be displaced in repacking in the next few years.” Granting the blanket waiver would also save the FCC the trouble of processing the numerous individual waiver requests that are likely to be submitted if it isn’t successful, NAB said. Not granting the waiver increases broadcaster uncertainty about the repacking process, which is also enhanced by doubt that the $1.75 billion TV broadcaster relocation fund will be able to cover relocations for full-power and Class A stations, NAB said. “Simulations released by the Incentive Auction Task Force have well over 1000 full power and Class A stations being relocated.” NAB estimates that the relocation funds would be able to cover the relocation of only 400-500 stations. To keep full-power and Class A broadcasters from having to pay for their own relocation, the FCC should either treat the relocation fund as a limit on the repacking, or require “winning wireless bidders in the forward auction to cover the additional costs of relocating incumbent broadcasters,” NAB said. “The Commission should not make an already difficult situation worse by requiring broadcasters to make investments in facilities that are likely to ultimately be stranded.” Thursday, when NAB’s filing appeared in the docket, was when initial comments were due on the Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance petition.